MMA FEATURES
Less than a day after being reportedly ousted from the UFC in a contract dispute Jon Fitch is now back with the company, the top welterweight contender confirmed to MMARated.com on Thursday afternoon.
After speaking with UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta via phone, Fitch said the two had managed to clear the air, that the fighter would sign the company’s much-maligned video game licensing agreement and was cleared to fight Akihiro Gono at UFC 94, as previously planned.
Fitch added that he still hasn’t spoken to UFC President Dana White and admitted that he didn’t like the way he’d been treated by White during attempts to negotiate a deal involving rights to his name and likeness for the upcoming “UFC Undisputed 2009” video game.
“Communication kind of broke down with Dana (White) so we talked with Lorenzo,” Fitch told MMARated. “(I) just got off the phone with him and we came to an agreement. We’re going to move ahead and I’ll be back in the UFC. We’re going to sign off on the video game and I’m back. It was never even about the agreement or the contract. It was the approach that we felt Dana was being a little bit hot-headed and was threatening us right off the bat. It didn’t seem like a professional way of doing things.”
MMARated’s Ariel Helwani is on the scene at the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, Calif., and will have more from Fitch as it happens.
After speaking with UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta via phone, Fitch said the two had managed to clear the air, that the fighter would sign the company’s much-maligned video game licensing agreement and was cleared to fight Akihiro Gono at UFC 94, as previously planned.
Fitch added that he still hasn’t spoken to UFC President Dana White and admitted that he didn’t like the way he’d been treated by White during attempts to negotiate a deal involving rights to his name and likeness for the upcoming “UFC Undisputed 2009” video game.
“Communication kind of broke down with Dana (White) so we talked with Lorenzo,” Fitch told MMARated. “(I) just got off the phone with him and we came to an agreement. We’re going to move ahead and I’ll be back in the UFC. We’re going to sign off on the video game and I’m back. It was never even about the agreement or the contract. It was the approach that we felt Dana was being a little bit hot-headed and was threatening us right off the bat. It didn’t seem like a professional way of doing things.”
MMARated’s Ariel Helwani is on the scene at the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, Calif., and will have more from Fitch as it happens.
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Comments (7)
11/23/08
Here is a Sam Caplan article you should read: http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2008/11/21/many-lessons-to-be-learned-from-the-jon-fitch-crisis/ Caplan says that DOna White was losing it on some radio talk show... come on big bad MMA reporters... lets see you run with that. Cmon on... let's see one of those hatchet jobs you reserve for other orgs. C'mon just once have the balls so say what Caplan said. Of course not... some drunken t-shirt guy no one ever heard speak before is the bigger deal for yall. That makes the UFC douchebags and you their douche-in-law.... the UFC isnt about getting the best fighters in the world, its about getting fighters who have no options and who have to accept what is given and fill in the spots with 3rd rate fighters who get plenty of exposure and breed familiarity/brand recognition while jerking off in food for your viewing pleasure.
11/21/08
Dana is one of the reaons why MMA is so big. Why are you guys hating on him so much. Yeah Dana cusses in almost every interview he does but who the fuck cares. Dana releasing Fitch is just saying his way or the highway. How is that a bad thing? If he was playing nice guy all the time the UFC would've been done a long time ago.
11/21/08
guys. guys. lets face the facts. Dana acts as bad cop, Fertitta as good cop. It is working, they arent going to change that.
11/21/08
dana white is worst than don king!! mr fertitta is a super nice guy he dosent need an arrogant getto bad ass like white as president. yes dana is the reson the ufc got so big but clearly his way over his head now, he thinks his God or something power and money tends to do that to some people. the reson the ufc hasent landed a major tv network deal with hbo,cbc,nbc is because of white. the onley stupid network that puts up with dana's bullshit is spike tv but what kind of coverage is that! i can almost bet the ufc is getting espn coverage do to lorenzo and not white. time to retire mr white!!
11/20/08
Just another 'episode' showing why Dana is an embarrassment for the sport and a lousy ambassador for MMA. Dana is a joke and his foul mouth and very unprofessional behavior is what is keeping this sport from reaching the next level of attention and sponsorship. If I was Mr. Fertitta I would dump Dana as my figure head regardless if he was a childhood friend or not, he is an anchor! Do you think any of the major networks want to deal with hot headed Dana White....... and at some point he will belittle a fighter and that fighter will retaliate with an ass whipping Dana will soon never forget.
11/20/08
Yaaaaay! I love Lorenzo (in a manly way). He always tends to fix Dana's mistakes. Jon Fitch is a beast, and will destroy every prospect til he gets another shot at the title. He simply needs to be marketed to the casual fans and they will eat him up. I can hear them now "What? Fitch is tied with ANDERSON SILVA for most UFC wins in a row... wooooow. he can beat anyone!" All in all... man I am so glad. I have really enjoyed watching Fitch's game progress over the last 2 years. This is the best news I've heard all day
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